Jasper gibson



(No Model.)

J. GIBSON.

BELL BUOY. No, 455,746. Patented July 14, 1891.'

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JASPER GIBSON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

BELL-BUOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,746, dated J'uly 14, 1891.

Application iled July 23, 1890. Serial No. 359,711` (No model.) Patented in England January 16, 1889, No. 820; in Germany November 22,1889, No. 52,125; in France November 25,1889,No.202,175, and in Italy December 24, 1889, No. 26,845/1'7'7.

T all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JASPER GIBSON, solicitor, of 51 Lincolns Inn Fields, London, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bell- Buoys, (for which I have received Letters Patent in Great Britain .Ia'nuary 16, 1889, No. 820; in Germany November 22, 1889, No. 52,125; in France November 25, 1889, No. 202,175, and in Italy December 24, 1889, No. 26, S45/177,) of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

This invention relates to improvements in bell-buoys, and has for its object to remedy the ineli'iciency of bell-buoys as at present constructed.

By my invention I secure practically a continuous ringing of the bell during rough "weather, when one or the other of the clap` pers of the four-clapper bell-buoy hitherto used is or are liable to hang against the bell and so prejudice its tone, while the remainder hang away inactive.

In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I have hereto annexed drawings illustrative of the manner in which it may be carried into effect.

Figure 1 represents an elevation of a buoy provided with my improved apparatus for sounding the bell, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. Sis a detail view of a portion of Fig. 1.

The same letters refer to the same, parts in each figure.

A is the floating body of the buoy, to the sides or deck of which are bolted or otherwise secured bars B, which extend upward in a converging manner and finally meet in a central hub B. To thelowerportionofthis hub is screwed a socket C, which, in conjunction with the ball c, forms a ball-andsocket joint. To the ball c is fixed a rod D between collars d, on which is loosely supported a disk or wheel E, while lower down between collars clis similarly supported abell E. Around the rim of the disk E are hung a series of clappers (three) or strikers E2, supported prefererably by ball-and-socket joints e, such strikers being so arranged as to hang some distance from the periphery of the bell when the buoy is floating vertically, as shown in the drawings, but being free vto impinge upon the same when the buoy oscillates. The disk E is weighted near its outer edge by means of aweight E3, fixed thereto, such weight causing the disk to revolve when the buoy is subjected to violent oscillations, whereby vthe possibility of any one of the three clappers resting against the bell and thereby checking the vibrations thereof is obviated.

In xing or fitting the above-mentioned rod D to the top frame-work ofthe buoy Isometimes find it desirable to suspend the same in ball-bearings or similar anti-friction gear, upon which the disk can revolve more freely than when supported by the ball-and-socket joint. The same arrangement applies equally to the suspension of the rod D and to the bearings d for supporting the disk E, as shown in detail in Fig. It is also advisable that the freedom of motionallowed to the clappers in the direction of swinging away from the bell should be limited, and for this purpose I employ a ring e', fixed either to the disk E, as shown, or to the iron-work B, forming the upper portion or dome of the buoy. The ring by thus limiting the oscillations of the clappers will cause the same to strike more frequently against the bell. To prevent the clappers hanging to the bell, a ring F is supported by arms F from a collar F2 on the-rod D at such a distance from the bell as will cause it to act as a spring and permit the clapper to strike the bell, but compel it to rebound therefrom.

The object of employing ball-bearings both for the suspension of the rod D and the disk or ring E is to make doubly sure of the disk revolving with every oscillation of the buoy.

The following is what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, namely:

1. In a bell-buoy,the combination, with the buoy, of a frame having a bearing, the rod D, hung in said bearing, the bell supported on said rod, a revolving disk mounted 0n the rod and eccentrically weighted,\and clappers hung from the disk and adapted to strike the bell, substantially as described.

2. In a bell-buoy, the combination, with the buoy, of a frame having abearing, the rod D,

hung in said bearing, the bell supported on mein freine, hub B', and the rod D, suspend said rod, a revolving disk mounted on the rod, ed in ball-bearings from the same, of the bell 15 elappers hung from the disk and adapted to E', Weighted revolving` disk E, mounted on strike thebell, and the limiting-ring e besaid rod D and provided with olappers, and

5 tween the bell and olappers and supported by rin g F, supported on rod D, whereby the clapthe disk, substantially as described. pers are prevented from clinging to the snr- 3. 1n a bell-buoy, the Combination, with the face of the bell, substantially as set forth. buoy, of a frame, a rod supported thereby, a T bell supported by the rod, a revolving disk JASPER GIBSO1\ 1o mounted on the rod above the bell, and elap- Witnesses:

pers carried by the disk and adapted to strike A. J. ELI, the bell, substantially as described. FRANK HUGHES,

4. In n bell-buoy7 the combination, with the 76 Chancery Lane, London, W O'. 

